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Voices in the Ocean
by Susan CaseyFrom Susan Casey, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wave and The Devil's Teeth, a breathtaking journey through the extraordinary world of dolphins Since the dawn of recorded history, humans have felt a kinship with the sleek and beautiful dolphin, an animal whose playfulness, sociability, and intelligence seem like an aquatic mirror of mankind. In recent decades, we have learned that dolphins recognize themselves in reflections, count, grieve, adorn themselves, feel despondent, rescue one another (and humans), deduce, infer, seduce, form cliques, throw tantrums, and call themselves by name. Scientists still don't completely understand their incredibly sophisticated navigation and communication abilities, or their immensely complicated brains. While swimming off the coast of Maui, Susan Casey was surrounded by a pod of spinner dolphins. It was a profoundly transporting experience, and it inspired her to embark on a two-year global adventure to explore the nature of these remarkable beings and their complex relationship to humanity. Casey examines the career of the controversial John Lilly, the pioneer of modern dolphin studies whose work eventually led him down some very strange paths. She visits a community in Hawaii whose adherents believe dolphins are the key to spiritual enlightenment, travels to Ireland, where a dolphin named as "the world's most loyal animal" has delighted tourists and locals for decades with his friendly antics, and consults with the world's leading marine researchers, whose sense of wonder inspired by the dolphins they study increases the more they discover. Yet there is a dark side to our relationship with dolphins. They are the stars of a global multibillion-dollar captivity industry, whose money has fueled a sinister and lucrative trade in which dolphins are captured violently, then shipped and kept in brutal conditions. Casey's investigation into this cruel underground takes her to the harrowing epicenter of the trade in the Solomon Islands, and to the Japanese town of Taiji, made famous by the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, where she chronicles the annual slaughter and sale of dolphins in its narrow bay. Casey ends her narrative on the island of Crete, where millennia-old frescoes and artwork document the great Minoan civilization, a culture which lived in harmony with dolphins, and whose example shows the way to a more enlightened coexistence with the natural world. No writer is better positioned to portray these magical creatures than Susan Casey, whose combination of personal reporting, intense scientific research, and evocative prose made The Wave and The Devil's Teeth contemporary classics of writing about the sea. In Voices in the Ocean, she has written a thrilling book about the other intelligent life on the planet.From the Hardcover edition.
Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins
by Susan CaseyThrough dolphins, we can see the best and worst of mankind.On average, seventy four dolphins wash up on the Gulf of Mexico's north shore every year. In the first half of 2012, there were eight hundred and ninety-one of them, with stillborn baby dolphins washing up at ten times the average yearly rate. The cause? BP's disastrous oil spill in 2010.For decades mankind's actions have led to the deaths of thousands of these beautiful creatures and this continues now, at a time when we know more about them than we ever have before. We know about their intelligence, abilities, and their culture. We know how similar to us they really are.In her most provocative book yet, Susan Casey takes us into an underwater world that is similar to our own in ways no other animal's world is. We're at a crossroads now where we could end up destroying these beautiful creatures, and our relationship with nature has become so dysfunctional that it jeopardizes our own existence. By combining her own personal narrative with her in-depth scientific research, Casey delivers a narrative which is both compassionate and thrilling.
The Voices of Nature: How and Why Animals Communicate
by Nicolas MathevonSongs, barks, roars, hoots, squeals, and growls: exploring the mysteries of how animals communicate by soundWhat is the meaning of a bird’s song, a baboon’s bark, an owl’s hoot, or a dolphin’s clicks? In The Voices of Nature, Nicolas Mathevon explores the mysteries of animal sound. Putting readers in the middle of animal soundscapes that range from the steamy heat of the Amazon jungle to the icy terrain of the Arctic, Mathevon reveals the amazing variety of animal vocalizations. He describes how animals use sound to express emotion, to choose a mate, to trick others, to mark their territory, to call for help, and much more. What may seem like random chirps, squawks, and cries are actually signals that, like our human words, allow animals to carry on conversations with others.Mathevon explains how the science of bioacoustics works to decipher the ways animals make and hear sounds, what information is encoded in these sound signals, and what this information is used for in daily life. Drawing on these findings as well as observations in the wild, Mathevon describes, among many other things, how animals communicate with their offspring, how they exchange information despite ambient noise, how sound travels underwater, how birds and mammals learn to vocalize, and even how animals express emotion though sound. Finally, Mathevon asks if these vocalizations, complex and expressive as they are, amount to language.For readers who have wondered about the meaning behind a robin’s song or cicadas’ relentless “tchik-tchik-tchik,” this book offers a listening guide for the endlessly varied concert of nature.
Voluntary Food Intake and Diet Selection in Farm Animals (2nd edition)
by J. M. ForbesThe feeding of farm animals directly effects their growth, health, reproduction and ultimately their economic value and is consequently one of the most studied areas of animal science. Building on the first edition and its predecessor, The Voluntary Food Intake of Farm Animals, Forbes has produced an up-to-date and more focused examination of developments in the understanding of voluntary food intake and new ideas and studies relating to diet selection. Chapters have been reorganized and updated to provide a more streamlined approach.
Vom Handwerk der Entomologie
by Hans MalickyDieses Buch wendet sich an entomologische Amateure und an Studierende und Forschende an Universitäten. Es bietet eine Zusammenfassung der grundlegenden Gedanken und Handgriffe, die eine Basis für die Beschäftigung mit der Entomologie bilden. Der Autor verknüpft in konkurrenzloser Weise übliche Arbeitsweisen der Amateurentomologen mit Anleitungen zur wissenschaftlichen Arbeit in diesem Gebiet. Das Werk vermittelt Kenntnisse für die taxonomische Tätigkeit und unterstützt bei der praktischen Arbeit.
Voracious Science & Vulnerable Animals: A Primate Scientist's Ethical Journey (Animal Lives Ser.)
by John P. GluckThe National Institute of Health recently announced its plan to retire the fifty remaining chimpanzees held in national research facilities and place them in sanctuaries. This significant decision comes after a lengthy process of examination and debate about the ethics of animal research. For decades, proponents of such research have argued that the discoveries and benefits for humans far outweigh the costs of the traumatic effects on the animals; but today, even the researchers themselves have come to question the practice. John P. Gluck has been one of the scientists at the forefront of the movement to end research on primates, and in Voracious Science and Vulnerable Animals he tells a vivid, heart-rending, personal story of how he became a vocal activist for animal protection. Gluck begins by taking us inside the laboratory of Harry F. Harlow at the University of Wisconsin, where Gluck worked as a graduate student in the 1960s. Harlow’s primate lab became famous for his behavioral experiments in maternal deprivation and social isolation of rhesus macaques. Though trained as a behavioral scientist, Gluck finds himself unable to overlook the intense psychological and physical damage these experiments wrought on the macaques. Gluck’s sobering and moving account reveals how in this and other labs, including his own, he came to grapple with the uncomfortable justifications that many researchers were offering for their work. As his sense of conflict grows, we’re right alongside him, developing a deep empathy for the often smart and always vulnerable animals used for these experiments. At a time of unprecedented recognition of the intellectual cognition and emotional intelligence of animals, Voracious Science and Vulnerable Animals is a powerful appeal for our respect and compassion for those creatures who have unwillingly dedicated their lives to science. Through the words of someone who has inflicted pain in the name of science and come to abhor it, it’s important to know what has led this far to progress and where further inroads in animal research ethics are needed.
Vote for Me!
by Martin BaltscheitThe lion loves elections—he wins every time. But when the mouse decides to run for president, other animals offer up their own candidates. Each one has a cause to champion: the ant wants a busier schedule, the German shepherd wants more law and order, and the wildebeest just wants everyone to live in peace. With so many options, how can the animals ever decide? Amusingly told through vibrantly colored illustrations, Vote for Me! introduces readers to the wild process of selecting a good leader.
Vote For Me!
by Ben ClantonA hilarious political satire by the creator of the bestselling Narwhal and Jelly series.Hey, you! Yes, you with the dazzling smile! The donkey wants your vote. So does the elephant. And each will do just about anything to win your support. Brag? Sure! Flatter? Absolutely! Exaggerate, name-call, make silly promises and generally act childish? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Soon, the tension mounts, and these two quarrelsome candidates resort to slinging mud (literally) and flinging insults. And what happens when the election results are in? Well, let's just say the donkey and the elephant are in for a little surprise--and a certain bewhiskered, third-party candidate is in for a first term!
The Voyage
by Veronica SalinasThis deceptively simple book about adapting to new situations will appeal to children who are just starting school or daycare, children who are about to move to a new home, or children who are learning a new language. In this delightful picture book, a small duck finds itself in a place full of unusual creatures who speak an unfamiliar language. Eventually, it meets an animal whose big feet are a bit like its own. And with a friend by its side, the small duck soon can feel at home. The illustrations are gently humorous, while the simple text affirms the importance of knowing who you are and being open to change. Without making unrealistic promises, this story reassures children that, with time, they can adapt to any new environment and make new friends to explore it with. And if, as happens to the little duck in this story, those new friends have to leave, the child, like the little duck, will be able to greet the next wave of newcomers with compassion and generosity.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia #5)
by C. S. LewisIllustrations in this ebook appear in vibrant full color on a full-color ebook device and in rich black and white on all other devices.Narnia . . . where a dragon awakens . . . where stars walk the earth . . . where anything can happen.A king and some unexpected companions embark on a voyage that will take them beyond all known lands. As they sail farther and farther from charted waters, they discover that their quest is more than they imagined and that the world's end is only the beginning.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the fifth book in C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, a series that has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. This is a novel that stands on its own, but if you would like to continue to the journey, read The Silver Chair, the sixth book in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Voyage of the Dogs
by Greg Van EekhoutThis edge-of-your-seat action-packed story is Homeward Bound—set in space! SOS. Ship damaged. Human crew missing.We are the dogs. We are alone.Lopside is a Barkonaut—a specially trained dog who assists human astronauts on missions in space. He and the crew aboard the spaceship Laika are en route to set up an outpost on a distant planet.When the mission takes a disastrous turn, the Barkonauts on board suddenly find themselves completely alone on their severely damaged ship.Survival seems impossible. But these dogs are Barkonauts—and Barkonauts always complete their mission.
Voyager 2
by Gwyn EvansJoin Tod the squirrel and his woodland friends on an exciting adventure as they build their very own spaceship-shaped treehouse! With the help of their new neighbours, the weasel brothers Sammy and Jimmy, they paint their creation in vibrant red, blue, and silver. But the fun doesn't stop there – a wise old raven named Zander takes the friends on thrilling flights through the sky. Filled with laughter, friendship, and colourful illustrations, Voyager 2 is a delightful tale that will spark the imagination of young readers as they follow these lovable characters on their quest to build the treehouse of their dreams.
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (Dover Children's Classics)
by Hugh LoftingTogether with Jip the Dog, Polynesia the Parrot, and 9-year-old Tommy Stubbins, the good doctor sets off in search of a missing colleague. This Newbery Medal–winning adventure recounts the hunt for Long Arrow, the world's greatest naturalist, in treks that range from the Mediterranean and South America to the bottom of the sea. Thanks to the doctor's gift for conversing with animals, the travelers find a solution to every challenge, including a curious encounter with a sea monster and a shipwreck on a mysterious island. "Any child who is not given the opportunity to [meet Doctor Dolittle] and all of his animal friends will miss out on something important." — Jane Goodall, wildlife biologist and author
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle: Retold From The Hugh Lofting Original (Children's Classics Ser.)
by Hugh LoftingThis Newbery Medal–winning adventure, the second book in the ever-popular Doctor Dolittle series, finds the physician who can talk to animals setting sail in search of a missing colleague. Join the good doctor and his new assistant, nine-year-old Tommy Stubbins, as they hunt for Long Arrow, the world's greatest naturalist. Together with Jip the Dog, Polynesia the Parrot, and other memorable characters, the doctor and Tommy travel from their home in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the Mediterranean sea and South America, braving a shipwreck on a mysterious island and encountering an enigmatic creature at the bottom of the ocean. "Any child who is not given the opportunity to make the acquaintance of this rotund, kindly, and enthusiastic doctor/naturalist and all of his animal friends will miss out on something important," declared wildlife biologist Jane Goodall. Doctor Dolittle has delighted readers for over a century, ever since Hugh Lofting enlivened his letters from the trenches of World War I with fancifully illustrated tales of a man with a special gift for communication. The doctor remains a beloved figure whose concern for the environment and promotion of peaceful coexistence among all the planet's creatures form a fine example for readers of all ages.
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
by Hugh LoftingThe Voyages of Doctor Dolittle is a high-seas adventure of exploration, shipwreck, derring-do, and of course, talking animals. The animals talk because Doctor Dolittle is no ordinary doctor. He has learned the secret of animal language, and uses his talents to help out his friends in the animal world. Now nine-year-old Tommy Stubbins, the son of a shoemaker, has the opportunity to become Dolittle's assistant, and join him on his journeys. Together with their animal companions they will travel to the strange Spidermonkey Island and beyond, in search of a colleague who has gone missing. <P><P> The second of Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle series, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal for children's fiction.
The Voyageur Canadian Essays & Criticism 2-Book Bundle: Selected Writings, A.J.M. Smith / The Kindred of the Wild
by A.J.M. Smith Michael Gnarowski Charles G. Roberts James PolkVoyageur Classics is a series of new versions of Canadian classics, with added material and special introductions. In this bundle we find two classic works of the art of the Canadian essay. Charles G.D. Roberts was a distinguished writer of his time who published more than forty volumes of poetry, romance fiction, and nature writing – making him one of the most popular writers of his time. He pioneered the animal story in which he went beyond surface elements of nature and endowed his animal "characters" with qualities of feeling and intelligence that brought them closer to their human cousins. Roberts’ career as a writer transcended his Canadian roots and he was internationally known and popular in America and England. Arthur James Marshall Smith – prize-winning poet, essayist, influential anthologist, and critic – died in 1980. His last book, The Classic Shade: Selected Poems, on which Selected Writings is based, stands as his final intention in the world of literature. To this long out of print book the editor has added original material by Smith in which he defined and advanced modernism in Canadian writing. Includes Selected Writings, A.J.M. Smith The Kindred of the Wild
Vulpes, the Red Fox
by Jean Craighead George John GeorgeVulpes the red fox is quick, curious, and clever--but is he any match for humans? Vulpes the red fox is the cleverest and boldest kit in his litter. From an early age, his curiosity has driven him to explore the woods and waterways around the Potomac River, where he was born. He watches his parents, especially his father, a fearless hunter, and quickly learns how to survive. One day, he smells a new and unfamiliar animal. As two boys come up through the woods, Vulpes is snatched away by his mother while his father crouches in the tall grass, hidden. What creature could have frightened his brave parents so much? Vulpes decides he has to find out more. But will his curiosity cost him his life? This ebook features an illustrated biography of Jean Craighead George, including rare photos from the author's personal collection.
Vulpes the Red Fox (American Woodland Tales)
by John George Jean Craighead GeorgeVulpes was the pride of his parents, the smartest pup of the litter--and he grew into a fast, quick-witted red fox whose abilities became legend among the forest's hunters.
Vulture View
by April Pulley SayreTurkey vultures soar on the balmy air, looking for their next stinky feast. These birds don't hunt-they like their food to be already dead, and their eating habits serve a very important ecological role. Vultures are part of nature's clean-up crew. In her signature poetic, energetic style, acclaimed nature writer April Pulley Sayre introduces young readers to the world of the turkey vulture. The gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Honor-winning artist Steve Jenkins capture these birds in all their surprising majesty.<P><P> Winner of the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor
Vultures (Nature's Children)
by Tim HarrisWhere do vultures live? What do vultures eat? How big are vultures? Find out the answers to these questions and learn all about vultures physical characteristics, behavior, and habitats.
Vultures: Nature's Cleanup Crew (Fountas & Pinnell Classroom, Guided Reading Grade 4)
by Jean KnoxRecyclers with Wings Vultures provide a vital service to the world. They are nature's recyclers. By eating dead animals and garbage, these birds keep our planet clean. NIMAC-sourced textbook
Vultures of the World: Essential Ecology and Conservation
by Keith L. BildsteinIn Vultures of the World, Keith L. Bildstein provides an engaging look at vultures and condors, seeking to help us understand these widely recognized but underappreciated birds. Bildstein's latest work is an inspirational and long overdue blend of all things vulture. Based on decades of personal experience, dozens of case studies, and numerous up-to-date examples of cutting-edge science, this book introduces readers to the essential nature of vultures and condors. Not only do these most proficient of all vertebrate scavengers clean up natural and man-made organic waste but they also recycle ecologically essential elements back into both wild and human landscapes, allowing our ecosystems to function successfully across generations of organisms. With distributions ranging over more than three-quarters of all land on five continents, the world's twenty-three species of scavenging birds of prey offer an outstanding example of biological diversity writ large. Included in the world's species fold are its most abundant large raptors—several of its longest lived birds and the most massive of all soaring birds. With a fossil record dating back more than fifty million years, vultures and condors possess numerous adaptions that characteristically serve them well but at times also make them particularly vulnerable to human actions. Vultures of the World is a truly global treatment of vultures, offering a roadmap of how best to protect these birds and their important ecology.
Waa'aka': The Bird Who Fell in Love with the Sun
by Cindi Alvitre&“Waa’aka’ was born when the earth was soft and the waters were new. It was the beginning of time.&” So begins Cindi Alvitre’s vivid and multifaceted telling of a traditional Tongva creation story from Southern California. Waa’aka’ follows the title character, a beautiful bird who falls in love with Tamet, the sun, and tries to follow him up to the sky. Accompanied by richly colorful illustrations from Carly Lake, the book touches deftly on themes like the unintended consequences of greed and the importance of working together. A rendition of one of California’s oldest tales, Waa’aka’ is a beautiful children’s book in the classic style.
Wabi: A Hero's Tale
by Joseph BruchacAfter falling in love with an Abenaki Indian woman, a white great horned owl named Wabi transforms into a human being and has several trials and adventures while learning to adapt to his new life.
Wacky Jacks: A Houdini Club Magic Mystery
by David A. Adler Author Heather H. Malone[from the back cover] "Herman "Houdini" Foster and his cousin, Janet Perry, have a new mystery on their hands. Their classroom pet hamster has disappeared--and reappeared--all in one day! Will this hamster whodunit stump Houdini? Solve a mystery! Learn a magic trick!"